Half term started with two incredible visits to the University of Hull with our Step Up Move On programme.
On Tuesday the Year 11 group became a ‘Student for a Day’ with a behind the scenes tour of the top of the range facilities at the Allam Medical Centre. We also had a mock law trial to sample what it might look like to be a law student at university. Following this, we had a taste of university life with a look at the accommodation on offer and had a cooking lesson with ‘Cook Stars’ in the student kitchens: it was a delicious healthy version of dirty fries and a fruit layered cheesecake that the group all took home for dinner!
Next on Wednesday, the Year 8 group became ‘Entrepreneurs for a Day’ with a session on Marketing and creating their own branded cupcakes. We learned all about the 4 Ps: Product, Price, Place and Promotion and used their persuasive skills to present their ideas to the board. We definitely have some future influential business people and creative talent on the Step Up Move On programme!
Thursday
From the very start of the day our Step Up Move On group were made to feel like VIPs on our recent visit to Humberside Airport with the Run With It team.
With our very own ‘access all areas’ lanyards, we were tasked with discovering how to travel to Amsterdam and learned all about all sorts of different career opportunities on the way!
The teenagers (some had never been to an airport before) were given the challenge of planning a trip which included: costs of car parking; times of flights; creating passports, documents needed, packing a case and even checking in and getting their own boarding passes! They learned so much about different job opportunities in an airport with fun activities whilst also having time to develop teamwork and invaluable communication skills.
In addition, we had a super lunch at the Aviator Café!
By the end of the day, there was a room full of ambitious future security workers, ground crew, air traffic controllers, pilots and a host of cabin crew too!
When reflecting on the day, one of our young people said they felt that they had attended an “exclusive experience which had made them feel more confident”. A successful day!
Friday
“I started the day in the city with a busy brain and lots of noise but by the end of the day felt calm”.
A visit to Goxhill Meadows at the beginning of Year 10 helps the young people on our Step Up Move On programme to understand how important it is to switch off and find some inner peace in the chaos of exams and revision.
As well as having some Halloween fun with the animals (who knew ponies were good at apple bobbing), we talked about the natural calm created by stroking animals and regulating your heartbeat. We learned breathing techniques and shared strategies to help re-program our stress levels: some children talked about playing football; others played music; some walked by the sea; others liked to draw or sketch. But we all ended the day with a better understanding of how being outside in the beautiful surroundings and caring for animals can support regulating our feelings and emotions.